Tag Archives: Star Wars

During a panel at PAX West in Seattle over the weekend, former Creative Director from the Uncharted series, Amy Hennig, spoke in depth regarding what she envisions for an authentic Star Wars story with elements of innovation in an already established universe in Visceral’s mysterious IP.

Due to a 10 year exclusivity deal with Disney for the Star Wars franchise, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen detailed that their goal is to, “make future Battlefront games as well as other style games around the Star Wars franchise, both on mobile as well as console and PC.”

The brand new untitled Star Wars IP was first teased at E3 2016 earlier this year during the Electronic Arts Play press conference, however there doesn’t seem to be anything set in stone at the moment.

Brief images showcased in the short clip from E3 highlight Imperial banners with a Star Destroyer in the background. Many have assumed that this might be set sometime before The Force Awakens on the terrain of an occupied Jakku.

Hennig started off the panel with caution as she didn’t want to delve into specifics. She did state that the aim was to create an ‘authentic’ Star Wars experience that involved elements that fans were already familiar with like the iconic AT-ST.

Hennig stated that alongside the more iconic things, she wants to make sure, “the new stuff, the new characters, the new story, the new locations, the new creatures, the new tech, will sit authentically alongside the Star Wars that we’re so familiar with.”

During the panel, she spoke about working closely with the Lucasfilm story group and Doug Chang, Art Director and Senior creative Director who posed the question regarding authenticity based on an original story.

“You need guides, that have done it for a while and are also looking at everything else, because we’re part of the same sort of emerging track of properties that, like obviously seven, eight and nine, is evolving that story further, but films like Rogue One and the Han Solo one that is coming, even shows like Rebels and stuff like that.”

“A lot of projects are in the works, and the question is ‘Is this authentic Star Wars?’ right? And to understand what that is, and to have people there at LucasFilms that have helped us define what that is.”

Speaking more in depth on how they are approaching the development of playable characters and main protagonists, Hennig said that coming from the Uncharted series that primarily focuses on the main protagonist means that there is a change of rules in development where you as the observer in a movie like Indiana Jones or player in a game like Uncharted are following the hero.

“So I thought that some of the rules I had used making Uncharted no longer applied,” she said. “In Uncharted or in Indiana Jones you actually kinda stick with Indie the whole time. There are times you cut away, but it’s always something that informs you on what he is doing, like Marion in the tent. In Star Wars you’re always cutting away to the bad guys, and seeing what they’re doing: ‘Meanwhile, back at the villain ranch…’”

In any Star Wars film, the use of switching from heroes to villains is utilised to flesh out both sides that ultimately gives viewers a more rounded perspective on plot and characters – this is called the ‘privileged observer’ .

“One of the challenges from a game design perspective is that this opens things up to the privileged observer problem. When we watch a film, we’re the privileged observer, right? We’re not the protagonist. Their struggle is illuminated by the things we can see that they don’t, right? Suspense and all that kind of stuff.”

“How do you do that in a game where you’re supposed to identify with the protagonist and cut away the things that they don’t know?”

This Star Wars title is one of the many projects that are on the way from EA as DICE is currently working on Star Wars Battlefront 2 to be released next year.

DICE and EA have released more information on the upcoming paid DLC for Star Wars: Battlefront title, Bespin set to release in June 2016.

When the game was first released, the general consensus was that players were not completely satisfied with the content available. However, the recent DLC like Battle of Jakku which came out last year as well as Outer Rim, a DLC which introduced the infamous Jabba the Hut into the game, is definitely getting the game back on the right track.

The DLC is bringing a beloved fan favorite Lando Calrissian to the Battlefront universe and is detailed to take place in Cloud City which was first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back.

In a blog post on the Battlefront website, EA will also be adding free content updates over the next few months, “while also launching the first expansion pack as a part of the Season Pass, Outer Rim.”

There will be a total of eight heroes which are going to be eventually added into the Battlefront Season Pass.

Here’s what players can expect in the months to come outlined on an EA forum:

New In-Game Events: More double score weekends, community missions and Special Login Events to earn more experience, credits and items.

More New Content: We also have a couple of surprises in store that we know our fans have been looking for, especially those who have been clamoring for ways to have more options to enjoy. Star Wars Battlefront offline. More to come soon.

Specific for May the 4th: In celebration of Star Wars™ Day we have cool activities planned that we’ll announce soon.

The third and fourth Season Pass expansions are detailed to arrive this fall and Q1 2017.

“You’ll see AT-ATs in Cloud City, take to the skies in Fighter Squadron, and even spend time in a carbonite chamber. Of course, we’re also adding more blasters and Star Cards, a new game mode, and two new iconic characters we’re really excited about – Lando Calrissian and the cold-blooded bounty hunter, Dengar.”

“We also have a couple of surprises in store that we know our fans have been looking for,” he added, “especially those who have been clamoring for ways to have more options to enjoy Star Wars Battlefront offline. More to come soon.”

The DLC set to release after Bespin is going to be Death Star, however the fourth expansion is yet to be announced with an official working titles or details.

For more news on Star Wars: Battlefront and everything gaming, stay tuned to the official @Hackinformer Twitter.

In an official post on Funko’s official website, the pop culture toy manufacturer has shared media on what to expect at the New York International Toy Fair 2016. The event is held specifically for members of the media as well as retailers who then report and showcase what new toys and figures are to be expected throughout the year. The Toy Fair started on Feb 13 and will continue to Feb 16.

As well as showcasing Game of Thrones, DC and Marvel figures, Funko will be releasing a ForceAwakens line up which will include: General Leia, Rey with Lightsaber, Kylo Ren, Snap Wexley, General Hux, Luke Skywalker, CO-74, Enforcer, Maz Kanata and FN-2199. Here’s an image below taken by Instagram user Funko_fnatic.

Pictures below show cute little Funko figures from the Suicide Squad such as The Joker, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Killer Croc as well as figures from the upcoming Ghostbusters film and a vast array of characters from the HBO hit TV series Game of Thrones.

For more media from the Funko Toy Fair lineup, you can follow the official Funko Instagram @originalfunko

So tell us what’s your all time favorite Funko collectible and what cute little plush toy or figure did you see from the Toy Fair that is a must have.

Leave your comments below or come follow us on our official Hackinformer twitter page for the latest updates.

Electornic Arts (EA) have given a release date for their highly anticipated title, Star Wars Battlefront during their gaming conference last night at E3.

For essentially a decade, fans have been anticipating the release of a new Battlefront title, however LucasArts just couldn’t bring this request to life, especially since being bought out by Disney back in 2013. So, EA DICE (creators of critically acclaimed Battlefield series) decided to take the reigns on this project by snatching up an official licence for the title, and with the help of their Frostbite game engine, Battlefront was born.

“We will give you the chance to live out the Star Wars Battlefront fantasies you’ve always dreamed of, and we can’t wait to see all the memories you will create on your own.”

“We have a variety of multiplayer modes that range from large scale battles between 40 players, all the way down to 8 player modes that deliver a more intimate experience between squads of rebels imperial soldiers.”

The gaming giant showcased a five minute trailer titled,”Walker Assault,” situated in a place called Hoth.

This is the first real footage to be shown for the title for a long time, however people must keep in mind that this is pre-alpha footage, and can be subject to change.

For those unfamiliar with the details of this game, Battlefront can be narrowed down to the combination of a Battlefield game-style and Star Wars universe to bring gamers as a first person shooter with 40-person multiplayer battles.

Who is hyped about this title progressing towards it’s final stages, and what are your thoughts on what you saw last night from the EA E3 conference? For more details feel free to follow my on Twitter @GeorgiaDanaG